Spring game
- Thread starter 95coug
- Start date
Imo we might have some play makers on D, but overall lackluster team. Not saying they won’t come together, find a QB, and go to a bowl. McIntosh looked great again. Borghi didn’t play. Maybe we will be able to rush our way to a few victories and an okay bowl game. Worried about QB play tho.
edited to add: Chun was on and said this is the most talented team he’s been around since at WSU. I hope he’s right. I passed out at some point and missed a chunk too.
edited to add: Chun was on and said this is the most talented team he’s been around since at WSU. I hope he’s right. I passed out at some point and missed a chunk too.
Do yourself a favor. Goto the thread Patrol started, KNEE JERKED in, and read what I said there about Guarantano: 8 for 8 100 yards, 1 about 23 yard TD, NO INT's, moved the chains, played well in 1st scrimmage, before the 2nd scrimmage, and before Spring Game.
Also a lot of the starters, or main players are either injured, not playing for various reasons.
All this game tells us, is that WSU is thinner, doesnt have good depth.
If a couple, few, some, lots, etc, of injuries happen, especially to even 1 semi KEY player, its going to be a semi bad year
No need to sugar coat it, we looked bad.
Lots to improve on in the fall and about half the spots on the depth chart are going to be up for grabs this fall.
Yeah True, they looked, were BAD.
BUT about 63% to about 73% to about 83% to about 93% of the ones who played bad in the Spring Game, are 2nd, 3rd, 4th stringer, non starters.
Basically this probably means WSU's DEPTH, IS BAD.
Injuries, especially to key players will destroy this team, if they happen a couple, few, some, a lot.
But that gets into another problem. Why are so many players missing time? We all know our players either need the reps or need the reps against the best competition possible.
The spring game before ‘18 was bad. Spring games don’t tell you much.
That CAN be true. Sometimes the Spring games can be very telling, if your paying attention, and know what to look for, but other then that, your right that semi usually, semi most of the time Spring games dont tell as much, or as much as some people think.
It wasn't. Both Tinsley and Gordon moved the ball. Borghi showed he was a baller. Plenty of other players looked good.
Also got to remember that covid might be a factor, as well as injuries might be a factor as well. Also some of these BACK UPS. 2nd, 3rd, 4th stringers just might not be that, any good, and that it might be them not being good, rather then the coaching staff, not doing what they should.
But other then those things, I dont know. The coaching staff might probably have a lot of their work to do in fall ball to get this fixed, and if I was Rolo I would get the team's player leadership council consisting of only players to organize UNOFFICIAL practices, and what to practice, and how to practice, during the rest of the spring and summer, to help fix this, since Rolo, WSU cant have OFFICIAL Practices, done by WSU staff, without getting into trouble, since doing so would be cheating.
After all if the PLAYERS hold UNOFFICIAL practices, that is not cheating, and the NCAA cant do anything about that for now.
My biggest concern is that for a QB guru, our qbs look lost as hell. Also rely on the eye test as far as lifting goes, and when the dudes ran out of the tunnel I thought it looked more Wulff than Leach out there. I wonder if we will ever have a WR over 6’0 that wears bigger than a medium shirt. Still on the rolo train, but my concern is growing.
I have the same concerns re strength and conditioning. It shows with the linemen.
I was a big fan of the leach beach for injury prevention. The 8-11 win teams Leach had were very healthy.
As far as the weight training, we still may be seeing a lagging effect of the pandemic lockdown but I get your concern. It’s just one of those things WSU has to be better at than their peers with superior talent to be competitive.
Curious on why so many players are sitting out . Surely there are not that many injuries. Heck even the blue blood programs suit up and play their studs in spring games. Just glanced at snippets of the "game" but saw enough to see it was looked like a big goof off type deal. It reminded me of those old NFL pro bowls games played in Hawaii the week before the Super Bowl. Did not watch enough but would not have been surprised to see someone eating a hot dog on the sidelines ala Switzer. Sure was not very intense.
Remember these guys are the back ups, 2nd, 3rd, 4th stringers, so of course they are gona look underdeveloped, etc.
Donovan Ollie is over 6 ft. I think CJ Moore might be over 6 ft.
But what the WR's lack in height, they make up for in SPEED, QUICKNESS, ATHLETICISM, JUMPING ABILITY, JUKING, BREAKING ANKLES, MAKING DEFENDERS MISS, CUTTING, VISION, IQ, CATCHING ABILITY, ETC.
Travell Harris is a NFL WR. Renard Bell is one of the fastest WR's in the Pac 12, a real BURNER. CJ Moore was a 4 star transfer, Calvin Jackson, Billy Hobert, this is still a EXTREMELY GOOD WR CORP. Not 10th in Nation, like before, but still one of the better WR corp in Pac 12, and good enough for the Run and Shoot, to help the NFL RB, Borghi, help the QB.
These WR's are not the WR Corp, I mentioned above. Instead they are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th stringers.
The only thing that concerns me, is that why is isnt Rolo getting Reps to the starters, back ups, new, 1st time starters?
Why is he giving all the reps, playing time in the spring game to the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th stringers?
Surely there is a explanation? What is it?
I too wonder why so many sat out. I think Covid, injuries, punishment, may have played roles in that happening.
As far as the Spring game itself, Brink, Deis, said that Rolo, staff wanted a game that was a extension of practice, practice scrimmage, not a scrimmage game. And that this was JUST supposed to be another practice, practice scrimmage, except that it was telivised, watched like a game.
They said that Rolo wanted it to be extremely competitive, but FUN as well, hence that's why those who compete well, would get to throw cream pies, water balloons at the coaching staff.
I am guessing there werent any cream pies, water balloons thrown at coaching staff, because of the bad play, and that Rolo wasnt happy.
But what can he expect? I know he wanted HARD WORK, and FUN.
But its hard to do, get both Hard Work, FUN.
The FUN comes from WINNING, and the SATISFACTION of knowing you played your guts out and WON, not before then.
There is a reason why Saban, and 63%+ of the successful coaches are not excessively concerned about FUN.
Rolo made a crack about using it for a beach party which I took as a sign it was going the way of Tony Bennett's hill. I was surprised because Rolo had his team work out on the actual beach in Hawaii so I figured he'd see the benefits.
Another thing that concerns me, is that there has been a lot of talk by even Brink, Deis, pundits, experts, fans, even Wazzu Watch, Brand X, Brand Y, Center, SB, Nation, ZUU crew, etc, about DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY. How Rolo is doing it the right way.
And it seems like the old culture of Poor Ole Sweet Ole Little Sweet Aww Shucks, lovable losers, coug its, WSU has returned.
The last time such a culture existed. The last time this happened, WULF who also was DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, went 9-40.
Time to STUFF that culture, thinking IN THE PAST, TRASH, WHERE IT BELONGS.
And it seems like the old culture of Poor Ole Sweet Ole Little Sweet Aww Shucks, lovable losers, coug its, WSU has returned.
The last time such a culture existed. The last time this happened, WULF who also was DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY, went 9-40.
Time to STUFF that culture, thinking IN THE PAST, TRASH, WHERE IT BELONGS.
This covers those who were out for the spring game.
www.spokesman.com
Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano leaves Washington State spring game after one play
Jarrett Guarantano, the Tennessee graduate transfer who came to Pullman this spring to get an early jump on WSU's quarterback competition, saw his spring game end after just one play.
www.spokesman.com
This covers those who were out for the spring game.
Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano leaves Washington State spring game after one play
Jarrett Guarantano, the Tennessee graduate transfer who came to Pullman this spring to get an early jump on WSU's quarterback competition, saw his spring game end after just one play.
Sounds like the team is pretty banged up from injuries, and has a lot of players that missed the game, due to injuries, Covid, maybe grades, maybe punishments, maybe other legit reasons.
Thats why there are so many 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th string back ups in the game, and why they didnt do that good.
So because of that, this Spring game was a WASH, did NOT tell us much of anything.
Maybe instead of Knee Jerking, Rushing to Conclusions, being quick to Judge, etc, how about we wait for INFORMATION to come in first, and gove Rolo, Staff, the Benefit of the doubt until we really know whats going on.
I know I was a little tiny bit guilty of this, as we probably all are at times, but we really do need to keep this in mind, BEFORE WE PANIC, KNEE JERK, COMPLAIN, ETC.
My daughter is friends with a lot of the players. They tell her it's night and day between Leach and Rolo as far as conditioning, schedule and organization goes. Leach had every half hour of every day planned out 6 months in advance...or so it seemed. With Rolo the guys barely get an hours notice as to what they'll be doing day to day. Now take that with a grain of salt...could be sour grapes or there could be more than meets the eye when it comes to his ability to run a P5 program.
A few observations:
1. Starting QB got injured after 1 play
2. Defense looked good, lot of energy and hustle to the ball
3. Entire athletic department got shut down due to Covid for 2 weeks (really affected S&C), which is why the start of spring practice was delayed
4. Team appears to be bonding well and having fun
5. R&S is a complicated offense, so naturally the defense will be ahead of the offense this time of year
6. This team can have a good year, spring games are just another practice for coaches. They aren’t looking to impress anyone, show their opponents too much stuff or get their players beat up
Go Cougs
1. Starting QB got injured after 1 play
2. Defense looked good, lot of energy and hustle to the ball
3. Entire athletic department got shut down due to Covid for 2 weeks (really affected S&C), which is why the start of spring practice was delayed
4. Team appears to be bonding well and having fun
5. R&S is a complicated offense, so naturally the defense will be ahead of the offense this time of year
6. This team can have a good year, spring games are just another practice for coaches. They aren’t looking to impress anyone, show their opponents too much stuff or get their players beat up
Go Cougs
I keep hearing anecdotal evidence along these lines. This much smoke usually means there is a fire.
Not entirely sure about that.
The mindset of players is not the same as even 10 years ago. Saban can be Saban because he puts players in the league.
I’d give Rolo a legit one season before dismissing his methods - especially with regards to doing ‘fun’ stuff instead of the constant stick method ala Leach.
Price also did some FUN stuff for the players. The thing with Price tho, is he could be both like Rolo(Fun), and Leach(Strict and organized), at the same time.
I dont know if Rolo is EXCESSIVELY concerned about FUN or not. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now. But I hope he Rolo can like Price be Fun at APPROPIATE times to be fun, and be strict and organized at APPROPIATE TIMES to be strict and organized like Leach.
That's weird ... I was told Leach mailed it in.
A bit more seriously, the one thing that causes me to slow down a rush to judgment re Rolo on this topic is COVID-19. Even just based on what we hear about, one can imagine all kinds of hindrances to planning what they are going to be doing on any given day or who is participating. I wouldn't put much money on it suddenly becoming boot camp even if/when this is "over," though.
I agree with everything here EXCEPT #6, your last point.
In one way, your right that Spring games are just another practice, they are not looking to impress anyone or give out too much info.
But since thats the case, WHY does Leach, Saban, most successful coaches treat the Spring game as a REAL GAME?
The answer is that its important to do BOTH treat it like just another practice, because it is a practice, AND AT SAME TIME, Treat it like a real game.
The reason for that should be apparent:
1. You need a SIMULATED REAL ESQUE GAME TO:
A. Get players used to the FEEL of a real game, so that they dont have real game shock, when they have first game of season.
B. Have players, staff get exposed to Real Refs, officiating
C. To put more CLUTCH, game like Pressure, to see how players react, respond do, in order to more accurately EVALUATE, JUDGE players, since there is, can be a difference between what players do in practice, and what players do in games.
D. To use as a REHEARSAL, so that dont F up in games in the beginning of the season.
E. To recognize, reward players who might not play in a game otherwise.
F. Have Fun.
G. Work HARD. Be COMPETITIVE.
F. To work on, test the coaching, playbook
G. To throw in a few wrinkles in order to hopefully mislead oppsing scouts.
H. And for the players, coaches, families of the players, fans, school, etc.
Not doing a REAL LIKE ESQUE SPRING GAME, and LITERALLY making it into just a CASUAL another casual practice, is NOT a good thing to do.
Hopefully Rolo learned that and learns from this.
I know that you are being a smartass here but I do laugh at all the people sh!tting the bed about the team right now.
I went to the Auburn game in 2013 and wandered around before the game. A group of Auburn fans saw my Coug gear and offered me beer and food. We talked about expectations and all that and they told me to come by the tailgate after the game no matter what happened.
We lost a relatively close game and I went ahead and stopped by their tailgate after the game. Some wrinkly old bastard was sitting off to the side telling everyone that their season was screwed because they had trouble putting away some sorry a$$ team that had gone 3-9 the year before and frankly, he felt that WSU had looked like the better team at times. He was pissed and convinced of their mediocrity. They ended up losing the national championship by 3 points.
So yeah, I don't get too worked up about what people think about football teams early on.
